Animal Control Officer Degree

Submitted by Samuel Homes on Monday, Mar 31st, 2014

High school was just the beginning of your educational path, and your diploma is just about in hand. Perhaps you are about to earn your GED or equivalent, of have been away from school for a while and are seeking a rewarding degree path worthy of your return. No matter the reason, you understand that a college degree is your way of making an impact on your community in a positive sense, and also a way to improve your life and bring satisfaction as well as a paycheck home every evening. To this end, you’d like more information about an animal control officer degree. (*)

Animal Control Officer Degree
This two years associate’s degree focuses on several facets of being an animal control officer, and will prepare you for a rewarding career in the field. Students will prepare themselves with help from their mentors and instructors to serve their communities with a balance of law enforcement and a healthy respect for the ethical treatment of animals. Responsibilities and possible scenarios vary from region to region across the United States, but the primary focus in the job will be the licensing and control of domestic pets.

Animal control officers work hand in hand with the community as well as local law enforcement in the role of police officers to ensure the control of animals in urban and suburban areas. Some animal control officers do work in rural locations, but these tasks are doubled with wild life management. Again, the responsibilities vary from region to region.

What an Animal Control Officer Does
An animal control officer is usually based out of the town or city’s ‘dog pound,’ where reports of stray animals are forwarded and it is the job of the control officer to humanely collect, if possible, the stray animals. Feral and stray animals can spread disease, and can cause issues in a community with feral behaviors no t conducive to community living. Feral animals breed without restriction, increasing an animal population to unsustainable levels if left unchecked, increasing the potential for disease and starving animals.

The control officer will also be responsible for locating and collecting wild animals that are causing a nuisance in populated areas, and will remove the animals to safer environs so the impact of wildlife and domestic pets is mitigated.

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